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Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween Paperback – Illustrated, September 12, 2019

by Lisa Morton (Author)

4.6 491 ratings

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Halloween has spread around the world, yet its associations with death and the supernatural as well as its inevitable commercialization have made it one of our most puzzling holidays. How did it become what it is today?

Trick or Treat is the first book both to examine the origins and history of Halloween and to explore in depth its current global popularity. Festivals like the Celtic Samhain and Catholic All Souls’ Day have blended to produce the modern Halloween, which has been reborn with new customs in America—but there are also related but independent holidays, especially Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Lisa Morton lifts the cobwebs off everything from the explosion in popularity of haunted attractions to the impact of events like the global economic recession, as well as the effect Halloween has had on popular culture through literary works, films, and television series.

Taking us on a journey from the spectacular to the macabre, this book is a treat for anyone who wants to peep behind the mask to see the real past and present of this ever more popular holiday.

Print length

232 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Reaktion Books
Publication date

September 12, 2019
Dimensions

5 x 0.9 x 7.75 inches
ISBN-10

1789141583
ISBN-13

978-1789141580
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Won ― Bram Stoker Award for Nonfiction

Won ― Halloween Book Festival Grand Prize

"Morton’s excellent history explores Halloween’s origins and traditions as well as its place in popular culture." ― Guardian

“If you want to know anything at all about the subject, you ought to find it in Trick or Treat.” ― Times (UK)

"Numerous black and white illustrations, references, bibliography, and an index supplement Morton's engaging and solidly researched text. Trick or Treat documents lots of historical tricks and is a wonderful treat for anyone looking beyond the commercial surface of Halloween." ― Canberra Times

“From an authority on Hallowe’en lore comes all you need to know about this ‘misunderstood’ festival. . . . Well written and illustrated, informative and entertaining.” ― Fortean Times

“Trick or Treat covers the history of Halloween from its ancient Celtic roots to its stunning growth in global popularity in the twenty-first century. Morton is an accomplished horror short story writer, and her ability to draw readers in quickly and keep them turning the pages shines through in her nonfiction as well. Lavishly illustrated, this solidly researched and concise work is fun to read and a great choice for readers who want to know why we seek out the scary each October.” ― Library Journal

“[Morton] playfully sets the record straight on the origins of Halloween. . . . This book is an excellent example of the scholarship on holidays as a means of accessing many facets of history. Highly recommended.” ― Choice

“Full of historical nuggets and strange folklore, Morton’s Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween is the perfect bible for all devoted disciples of the holiday.” -- Michael Dougherty, writer and director, "Trick 'r Treat"

“With Trick or Treat Morton gives us a charming, creepy, insightful, and thoroughly fascinating history of Halloween. It’s a delicious blend of cultural history and pop-culture savvy that is a true delight to read!” -- Jonathan Maberry, author of "Flesh and Bone" and "Assassin’s Code"

“This is an excellent survey of the Halloween scene, informative and accessible, far more treat than trick.” -- Kim Newman, author of "Nightmare Movies" and "Anno Dracula"

“In a modern world, increasingly filled with pop culture fads and gimmicks, Morton reveals much of the underbelly history and unknown facts regarding the biggest pop culture event in history—Halloween. Her sheer delight and well-researched enthusiasm in tackling many of the unrecognized aspects of this monstrous topic makes one wonder what we don’t know about everything else that should be as commonplace to our psyche as a bag of candy.” -- Del Howison, editor of "Dark Delicacies" and "Book of Lists: Horror"

About the Author

Lisa Morton is an award-winning author and widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on the supernatural. Her work includes The Halloween Encyclopedia and A Hallowe’en Anthology: Literary and Historical Writings Over the Centuries.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Reaktion Books; 1st edition (September 12, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1789141583
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1789141580
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.9 x 7.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #436,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #48 in Holidays (Books)
- #976 in Folklore & Mythology Studies
- #3,171 in Historical Study (Books)

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4.6 491 ratings

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Lisa Morton

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Lisa Morton is a screenwriter, author of non-fiction books, award-winning prose writer, and Halloween expert whose work was described by the American Library Association's READERS' ADVISORY GUIDE TO HORROR as "consistently dark, unsettling, and frightening". She began her career in Hollywood, co-writing the cult favorite MEET THE HOLLOWHEADS (on which she also served as Associate Producer), but soon made a successful transition into writing short works of horror. After appearing in dozens of anthologies and magazines, including THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF DRACULA, DARK DELICACIES, THE MUSEUM OF HORRORS, and CEMETERY DANCE Magazine, in 2010 her first novel, THE CASTLE OF LOS ANGELES, was published to critical acclaim, appearing on numerous "Best of the Year" lists. Her book THE HALLOWEEN ENCYCLOPEDIA (now in an expanded second edition) was described by REFERENCE & RESEARCH BOOK NEWS as "the most complete reference to the holiday available," and Lisa has been interviewed on The History Channel and in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL as a Halloween authority. She is a six-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award®, a recipient of the Black Quill Award, and winner of the 2012 Grand Prize from the Halloween Book Festival. A lifelong Californian, she lives in North Hills, California, and can be found online at www.lisamorton.com.

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491 global ratings

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Bob Lewis

Thorough and insightful

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2019

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Though not a historian by trade, I consider myself reasonably well-versed in history. I further consider myself more than reasonably well-versed in Halloween, horror, and the macabre. It was therefore a most pleasant surprise to find that Lisa Morton's Trick or Treat didn't merely offer a collection of amusing but tired anecdotes with which I was already familiar. Rather, this short book presents broad history of the holiday ranging from its European roots to its heyday in America and its undeniable influence on popular culture. Indeed, despite my background, I found more new information here than old. The act of reading this book has significantly deepened my knowledge and understanding of one of my own favorite holidays.

The book begins by correcting some common misconceptions about Halloween's origins, painting a complicated but fascinating portrait of the festival's evolution through the centuries, culminating in a lengthy discussion of how the holiday finally took root and morphed into what we recognize as the modern Halloween largely in America. A full chapter is then dedicated to tracing how Halloween has (or hasn't) been exported to other countries, and an additional chapter examines the parallels between Halloween and Days of the Dead. The book closes with a lengthy chapter tracing references to Halloween in popular culture, beginning even before the holiday was recognizable as Halloween and culminating with modern literary and cinematic treatments. Though the book is divided by topic rather than by time period and thus presents a non-linear exploration of its subject, it nevertheless offers a surprisingly complete history given its relatively short length.

Many of the book's sections briefly consider Halloween's connection to some cultural or historical phenomenon or other, inspiring not-insignificant curiosity about the broader context of those cultural or historical events. If I were to offer any criticism of this book it is merely that its length prevents a deeper examination of the cultural context in which its events took place. However, the presentation of these happenings is so intriguing, the book actually serves as an springboard for further reading. Personally, I'll be following up some of Morton's references to engage in a deeper study of how Halloween and related festivals have developed in parallel with various supernatural belief structures.

As I write this, having just finished reading the book, it's mid-October and my thoughts are drifting toward the upcoming holiday. I highly recommend Trick or Treat as perhaps the perfect book with which to kick off your own Halloween season.

23 people found this helpful

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Nom de Guerre

Personal favorite cultural history of personal favorite holiday

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2015

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Halloween has been my favorite holiday for the past 3+ decades. As a child it meant making my own costumes and decorations, hosting the big Halloween party for all my friends, and hearing stories from my dad about scrounging through trunks of old clothes in the attic and tumbling through his little Midwestern hometown with all his brothers. "Adult" Halloween and I never meshed. My version of the holiday now involves upping the ante when it comes to decorating the house, handing out treats, and roaming the neighborhood in a more elaborate homemade costume.

My "adult" version of Halloween has also come to involve reading everything I can find about the holiday. I want to know about its origins, earlier practices, how and why it has changed since I was a kid, etc. It's not reading, but I also go to historical recreation Halloween dinners and celebrations (yes, these exist).

I'm a cultural historian (doctorate in art history and archaeology, but it's really cultural and visual history), so that's the kind of viewpoint I can offer here:

From where I stand, this is absolutely the best book on Halloween and its history as a cultural phenomenon. I've read Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night by Nicolas Rogers and though that book is supposedly more scholarly, I honestly don't think it was as interesting or informative. Whatever your level of interest, I'd recommend Lisa Morton's book over that one. In fact, if you just want to learn enough about Halloween's past to recreate a 19th century party, I think this book would be a great resource for you.

I guess I have two caveats: 1) this isn't a book of Halloween stories, it really is a cultural history; 2) this is not meant as a practical guide to those who want to perform pagan rituals, etc. It offers some interesting history but if you want to celebrate the holiday a la wicca, I don't think this book is going to do the trick.

Oh, and I do recall there being interesting material about recent controversies over Halloween related to safety and to modern religion. If you are curious about those things I think you can read about them here. But this is not a book by someone with an "agenda" about Halloween, and I am pretty sure Lisa Morton genuinely likes Halloween, so if you're here to find a book warning against the celebration of this holiday...well, I'm afraid this is the wrong place.

Long story short: loved this book as an accessible cultural history. Not meant to teach you how to practice Halloween as a Wiccan. Not meant to teach you to avoid Halloween, either. Just a good and readable cultural history.

21 people found this helpful

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David

Good introduction to Halloween as cultural history

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021

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I think this book does a good job introducing a history of Halloween and the cultural production around it. I personally would have liked a longer and more intensive volume on the holiday, but I appreciate she makes this book accessible as more of a general read.

One person found this helpful

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kurtis primm

Best Halloween History book I have ever read!

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2012

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This is the very best most imformative Halloween history book that I have ever read. If you want to know the true roots of this spactacular holiday, not the heresay, or muddled assumptions, but the truth with facts, then look no further than this book. I have a massive Halloween book collection and I have never read a book yet with so much information about the true roots of Halloween. The book was a great read and I could not put it down. I am so very glad that I bought this book, and if you are a lover of Halloween, or history, then pick up this book. You will be very glad that you did.

11 people found this helpful

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MaxMuscle84

Lots of interesting information.

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023

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If you are a bit nerdy like me then you will enjoy this book. There are lots of interesting facts and stories about the origins of this holiday. This would make a great gift for anyone who really likes Halloween.

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2023

Verified Purchase

A great read right before Halloween, arrived on time

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